Hey there, fellow drink aficionados and adventure seekers! If you‘re anything like me, you know the struggle of trying to keep your favorite beverages icy cold (or blazing hot) while you‘re out there living your best life. Whether I‘m posting up at the beach, tailgating before the big game, or just sipping on my morning coffee during my commute, I need a tumbler that can keep up with my on-the-go lifestyle. That‘s where YETI and BrüMate come in!
These two powerhouse brands have been making waves in the insulated drinkware scene, promising to revolutionize the way we drink with their ultra-durable, high-performance coolers, cups, and more. But with so many similarities, it can be tough to decide which one deserves your hard-earned cash.
That‘s why I‘ve put together this ultimate head-to-head comparison of YETI vs BrüMate. I‘ll dive deep into the key differences between these two brands, share some of my personal experiences with their products, and drop some knowledge from industry experts so you can make an informed decision on which one is right for you.
So grab a cold one, kick back, and let‘s get into it!
Meet the Brands: YETI and BrüMate‘s Origin Stories
Before we jump into the nitty-gritty product details, let‘s take a step back and get to know the brands behind the drinkware.
YETI: Born in the Wild
YETI was founded in 2006 by two Texas-based outdoorsmen, brothers Roy and Ryan Seiders. As avid hunters and fishermen, the Seiders brothers were frustrated with the flimsy, underperforming coolers on the market that couldn‘t hold up to their rugged lifestyles. So they set out to create a cooler that could withstand the toughest conditions – and the now-legendary YETI Tundra was born.
Made with virtually indestructible rotomolded construction and up to 3 inches of insulation, YETI hard coolers quickly gained a cult following among outdoor enthusiasts for their impressive durability and ice retention. The brand has since expanded its product line to include soft coolers, insulated tumblers, bottles, and more, all built with the same uncompromising quality and performance.
Today, YETI has become a household name synonymous with rugged, premium outdoor gear. In 2021, the company reported a record $1.4 billion in net sales and continues to dominate the high-end cooler and drinkware market.
BrüMate: Innovating the Drinking Experience
Meanwhile, BrüMate was founded a decade after YETI in 2016 by 21-year-old entrepreneur Dylan Jacob. As a recent college grad, Jacob was looking for a way to enjoy his favorite craft beers without having to worry about them getting warm and going flat.
He started tinkering around with designs for an insulated beer koozie that could adapt to fit different can sizes, and the BrüMate Hopsulator Trio (now one of the brand‘s bestselling products) was born. The response was explosive – Jacob initially started selling the Hopsulator on Etsy and at local craft fairs, and demand quickly outpaced what he could produce in his garage.
Fast forward a few years, and BrüMate has expanded its lineup to include a variety of insulated can coolers, tumblers, cups, and accessories in a rainbow of fun colors and patterns. The brand has developed a reputation for functional yet fashionable drinkware geared towards millennial consumers.
While still a relative newcomer compared to YETI, BrüMate has made a huge splash in the industry, with revenues growing from $1.7 million in 2017 to over $31 million in 2020. Not too shabby for a brand that started as a one-man operation!
Coolers: Heavy-Duty Durability vs Portable Party Machine
One of the biggest differences between YETI and BrüMate‘s product lines is their approach to coolers. While both brands offer insulated drinkware in spades, YETI is best known for its ultra-rugged hard coolers while BrüMate‘s claim to fame is its lightweight, easily portable soft-sided BackTap cooler.
YETI Tundra Hard Coolers
YETI‘s flagship product is the Tundra series of roto-molded hard coolers. These things are absolute beasts – they‘re certified bear-resistant and are used by wildlife agencies like the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee to store food while camping in bear country.
The Tundra‘s strength and durability comes from its rotational molding process, which creates an extra-thick, one-piece plastic shell with seamless corners and up to 3 inches of PermaFrost insulation. YETI also adds thoughtful features like a freezer-quality gasket, heavy-duty rubber latches, and military-grade nylon handles that can withstand just about anything you throw at them (trust me, I‘ve put mine through the wringer on countless camping and fishing trips).
All that ruggedness translates to some serious ice retention. In a head-to-head ice challenge conducted by OutdoorGearLab, the YETI Tundra 45 held ice for a whopping 6.5 days, outlasting competitors like the Orca 40 and RTIC 45. You‘ll pay a premium for that performance, though – the Tundra 45 retails for $325, while larger sizes like the 350-quart Tundra 350 will set you back $1,300.
BrüMate BackTap Cooler
On the flip side, BrüMate‘s signature cooler is the BackTap, a soft-sided backpack cooler with a built-in tap for dispensing your drink of choice hands-free.
I recently took the BackTap on a float trip down the river, and it was a total game-changer. No more fumbling with a bulky cooler or warm beer – I just filled the 3-gallon interior with my favorite brews and some ice, strapped it on my back, and I was good to go for hours. The padded, ventilated straps made it super comfortable to carry, and the heavy-duty welded seams and waterproof zippers kept everything inside nice and frosty.
At 15 x 10 x 7 inches, the BackTap has a slimmer profile than YETI‘s hard coolers, making it easier to store and transport. It‘s not skimping on insulation, though – BrüMate uses closed-cell foam insulation to achieve up to 24 hours of ice retention.
Another big selling point is the price. At $180, the BackTap is almost half the cost of the YETI Tundra 45. So if you‘re looking for a cooler that‘s easy to take on the go and won‘t totally break the bank, the BackTap is a great option.
The Verdict
For serious outdoor adventurers who need maximum durability and ice retention, YETI hard coolers can‘t be beat. But if you prioritize portability and want a fun, convenient way to serve drinks at your next tailgate or beach day, the BrüMate BackTap is calling your name.
Tumblers & Drinkware: Battle of the Beverage Buddies
While coolers are great for toting around larger quantities of drinks, most of us are reaching for a trusty tumbler or koozie to keep our individual beverages cold on the daily. Both YETI and BrüMate offer a slew of options here, from cans and bottles to wine and coffee.
YETI Rambler Drinkware
YETI‘s signature Rambler tumblers and bottles have a serious fan following, and I have to admit I‘m one of them. I‘ve put my 20 oz Rambler Tumbler through just about every scenario imaginable – hot yoga classes, bumpy off-road drives, and even an accidental drop off a boat – and it‘s never let me down.
The Rambler series is built with YETI‘s 18/8 kitchen-grade stainless steel, which is puncture- and rust-resistant and provides superior temperature retention. All of the Rambler drinkware features double-wall vacuum insulation, which creates an airless space between the inner and outer walls to prevent heat transfer and keep your drink cold (or hot) for hours on end.
To put that insulation to the test, I filled my 20 oz Rambler with ice water and left it sitting in my car on a sweltering 95°F day. After 8 hours, the ice had barely melted and the water was still refreshingly cool. Color me impressed!
YETI also offers a range of smart lid options for the Rambler series, like the splash-resistant MagSlider lid that uses magnets to keep your drink locked and loaded, and the HotShot cap that lets you sip from any side like a normal cup. As someone who‘s a little too prone to spills, I appreciate those thoughtful design touches.
The 20 oz Rambler Tumbler retails for $35, which is pricier than your average gas station cup but well worth it in my opinion for the durability and performance. Plus, YETI offers a 5-year warranty on all of its products, so you can feel confident that your investment will last.
BrüMate Drinkware
While BrüMate may be newer to the insulated drinkware game, they‘ve quickly made a name for themselves with their fun, colorful designs and unique product offerings.
I recently tried out the BrüMate Hopsulator Trio, a 3-in-1 can cooler that can adapt to fit 12 oz, 16 oz, and 19.2 oz cans. As a craft beer lover, I was stoked to find a koozie that could handle those taller, skinnier cans that are so popular with breweries these days. The push-lock technology creates a 360-degree seal around the can to lock in the cold and keep my brews frosty for hours.
Another standout in BrüMate‘s lineup is the Uncork‘d XL Wine Tumbler, which can hold a whopping 14 oz of your favorite vino (that‘s nearly half a bottle, for those keeping score at home). The cup‘s tapered, no-spill design and flip-top lid make it perfect for outdoor concerts or picnics where glass is a no-go. And with fun colors like Glitter Sangria and Walnut Wood, it‘s a stylish accessory to boot.
BrüMate uses the same double-wall vacuum insulation technology as YETI, with the added benefit of an additional copper layer in some of its products for even better temperature retention. In my experience, BrüMate cups perform just as well as YETI in terms of keeping drinks cold and preventing sweating and condensation on the outside.
Price-wise, BrüMate is comparable to YETI, with the 12 oz Hopsulator Trio retailing for $25 and the 14 oz Uncork‘d for $30. But one thing I love about BrüMate is that they‘re always running promotions and discounts, so it‘s easy to score a deal on their site. They also offer a lifetime warranty on all of their products, which is a huge plus in my book.
The Verdict
Both YETI and BrüMate offer exceptional insulation and durability in their drinkware, so you really can‘t go wrong with either brand. If you want a tried-and-true tumbler with a classic, understated look, go for a YETI Rambler. But if you‘re looking for a fun pop of color or a unique design for a specific type of drink, BrüMate has you covered.
Quality & Performance: Put to the Test
Of course, all the fun colors and clever designs in the world don‘t mean much if the product doesn‘t perform as promised. When it comes to insulated drinkware, the two most important factors are how well it retains temperature and how long it lasts.
Both YETI and BrüMate use high-quality 18/8 stainless steel in their products, which is known for its durability and resistance to corrosion and rust. This type of steel is also non-reactive, meaning it won‘t absorb flavors or odors from your drinks (goodbye, metallic-tasting coffee).
As I mentioned before, both brands also use double-wall vacuum insulation to create an airless space between the inner and outer walls of the drinkware. This is key to preventing heat transfer and keeping your drink at a stable temperature for hours on end.
But just how well do these products stack up in real-world use? I scoured the internet for some hard data from independent product tests to find out.
According to a comprehensive test conducted by CNN Underscored, YETI‘s Rambler Tumbler was the top performer in terms of temperature retention, keeping ice frozen for over 16 hours and hot drinks warm for nearly 8 hours. The BrüMate Toddy came in a close second, with 14 hours of ice retention and 6.5 hours of heat retention.
In another test by Business Insider, the YETI Colster Can Insulator and BrüMate Hopsulator Trio went head-to-head in a battle to keep beer cold. After two hours in 80°F heat, the YETI kept the beer at a chilly 45°F while the BrüMate clocked in at a still-respectable 48°F.
As for durability, both brands have a solid track record. YETI‘s drinkware is built to withstand drops, dings, and general wear and tear thanks to its thick gauge steel and sturdy construction. BrüMate‘s products are also impressively resilient – in one memorable customer review, someone ran over their Hopsulator with a truck and it emerged unscathed!
Of course, no product is completely indestructible. But based on my own experience and countless glowing reviews, I feel confident saying that both YETI and BrüMate products are built to last and can hold up to even the most adventurous lifestyles.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, choosing between YETI and BrüMate really comes down to your personal preferences and priorities.
Both brands offer exceptional quality, performance, and durability that justify their premium price points. If you want the classic, rugged look and feel of a brand that‘s been around for over a decade, YETI is the way to go. You‘ll get top-of-the-line ice retention, a leakproof seal, and a timeless aesthetic that looks equally at home in the great outdoors and your morning commute.
On the other hand, if you‘re drawn to bold pops of color and unique designs tailored to specific drinks, BrüMate is the brand for you. Their fun, Insta-worthy products are perfect for social butterflies and trendsetters who want their drinkware to make a statement. Plus, the brand is constantly innovating with seasonal collections and limited-edition designs to keep things fresh.
No matter which brand you choose, investing in high-quality insulated drinkware is always a smart move. With YETI or BrüMate in hand, you‘ll be able to enjoy your favorite beverages at their ideal temperature and live your best life, no matter where your adventures take you.
So go ahead, crack open a cold one, and raise a toast to keeping your drinks on point and living life to the fullest. Cheers!
